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Carl Jacobson – PreSonus exec and metal artist shares his most prized possessions

As marketing director for PreSonus, Baton Rouge’s expert audio recording and music production company that has gone from homegrown to worldwide in its nearly two decades, Carl Jacobson is at the helm of the concepts and the messages that are taking the company to new heights. But he is also an artist himself who’s not afraid to get his hands dirty. Here he shares with 225 his favorite things.

My grandfather’s antique hammer. My grandfather, who I was named after, worked in the Charleston Navy Shipyard. He helped rebuild battleships during World War II and worked on the restoration of the USS Constitution, or “Old Ironsides.” It might just look like a hammer, but my grandfather made things, and he used this to rebuild something great. That’s how I want to remember him.

Photo of my father. I love this picture of my dad. After heart surgery, he’s become a nomad, roaming North America on his Harley ever since. So inspiring to me.

Salvador Dali’s Cervantes. As a child, I remember often staring at this, thinking it was a drawing of my dad.

Miles Davis’s In a Silent Way. It doesn’t get better than this. I even have the crackles on this vinyl memorized.

Photo with Ray Charles. I had the incredible opportunity to work with Ray Charles the last few years of his life to help him become empowered to create music on a computer without any assistance.

Extreme Makeover Home Edition T-shirt. I used to watch this show—and cry—almost every week. One day I got a call from a producer who said she’d heard that I’d helped out Ray Charles, and they wanted to create a recording studio for an incredible young man who was vision-impaired. Contributing there and a few other episodes was the most fulfilling work I’ve done in my career.

Tai chi ball. Using this with martial arts is not only an incredible meditative process, but it also trains you to work with an opponent’s energy.

Phil Ramone’s Making Records (autographed). When a friend and I had an idea for a music-themed TV show, Phil agreed to meet with me to hear my idea, but what transpired was a three-hour mentoring session. This is what made him such a great record producer. Most people I had met with about the show had a “What’s in it for me?” attitude, but all Phil wanted to do was make my creative endeavor better.

Alex Grey’s Transfiguration (autographed). I was fortunate to see him live paint in New York City in 2007. I was recently accepted into The Walls Project, and the venue that I’ve been paired with suggested Alex Grey as an artist for inspiration for the piece! Full circle.

Antique Cornet. I dug this up from the ground and gave it to a mentor before leaving for college. Twenty years later he gave it back to me, calling it bookends to some karma I had to work out.

A piece of my own art. I suppose if my house were on fire, after saving my family, I would try and salvage some of my art. This piece is called Burn Your Shadow.

PreSonus Sceptre Speakers. PreSonus brought me to Louisiana, and my life immediately changed for the better. I don’t actively make music anymore but listening to it is still one of my great passions. These speakers are unlike anything I’ve ever heard before and help me feel connected to the music makers we serve.